A Pennsylvania woman recently diagnosed with mesothelioma has filed an asbestos suit against 76 defendant corporations, claiming the disease was wrongfully caused.

Irene Stabley claims she was diagnosed with the disease July 16, according to a lawsuit filed Sept. 11 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Stabley says she worked from 1947 until 1986 as a secretary and office worker at various locations throughout Illinois, according to the lawsuit.

She claims her husband, Jere Stabley, worked from 1951 until 1986 as a production worker and engineer at RCA.

She alleges he was exposed to asbestos fibers and would carry them home on his clothing. She then was repeatedly exposed to the asbestos through his clothing, according to the complaint.

Stabley states her exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants, according to the lawsuit.

She claims her disease was caused after she was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers.

Stabley alleges the asbestos-related disease caused her to become disabled and disfigured and to incur substantial medical costs. Stabley also has experienced great physical pain and mental anguish as a result of the disease, she claims in the lawsuit.

Mesothelioma hindered and prevented Stabley from pursuing her normal course of employment, according to the suit.

As a result, she lost large sums of money, Stabley claims.

In the eight-count lawsuit, Stabley seeks sums in excess of $50,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $200,000, and punitive and exemplary damages in excess of $100,000.

She also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants for their misconduct and to deter similarly situated parties from committing like acts of misconduct in the future.

She is represented by Shane F. Hampton and Paul M. Dix of SimmonsCooper LLC in East Alton.